Edge registry mechanism



Dec. 19, 1961 D. N. JUDELSON 3,013,513

EDGE REGISTRY MECHANISM Filed June 7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

FIG. 6.

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Mo. 0, g I M1 m2 m; INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed June '7, 1956 FIGS.

a k a 7 n 0 22MB l .1 m s/2.2% a J u i 22... z W m 9 M M FIGS.

mw mm J M m M Arramvry Dec. 19, 1961 D. N. JUDELSON 3,013,513

EDGE REGISTRY MECHANISM Filed June 7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.7.-

DAV/D IV- JUDELSO/V The present invention relates to automatic mechanism for folding a length of material in half about a longitudinal median line with its opposite side edges in substantial registry, and in particular to an edge registry device capable of maintaining a prescribed orientation of said opposite side edges relative to each other and/or to a reference line.

In the manufacture of bias-cut material it is necessary to take materials from a supply, either in roll form or in flat folds, and fold the material in half lengthwise whereupon the folded over half sections are joined together inwardly of their superposed side edges by a line of stitching. The details of an improved sewing unit of this general type may be found in my copending application Serial No. 467,933, filed November 10, 1954, now United States Patent No. 2,753,823.

It is generally known in the art that a material doubling unit may be'placed in advance of the sewing unit for the purpose of delivering the fabric or material in folded con dition to the sewing unit. In theory, these doubling units are intended to fold the fabric exactly in half, so that the opposite side edges thereof substantially coincide. However, as a practical matter the nature of the fabric itself, the condition of the supply of fabric, and other variables make it very difficult, if not impossible, to fold the material exactly in half.

For example, in the manufacture of bias-cut material which is ultimately used for binding tapes or the like, the supply of material comes in roll form or in fiat fold.

In the feed of such material, the relative location of the material in relation to the doubling mechanism changes from time to time as a result of the poor edge registration of either the roll or the fiat folds. As the position of one edge, nominally designated as a reference edge, changes in relation to the doubling unit, there will be a corresponding change in the location of the doubled length of material in relation to the sewing unit. A further complication introducing trouble in the doubling unit is brought about by width variation of the material throughout its length as a result of standard mill operations. These difliculties result in improper operation of the sewing unit.

Many of these difficulties are overcome by the use of doubling units constructed according to my earlier filed applications Serial Nos. 502,620, now United States Patent No. 2,900,934, granted August 25, 1959, and 575,441, now United States Patent No. 2,951,459, granted September 6, 1960, which both illustrate doubling units constructed to compensate for lateral shifting of the material during its lengthwise travel as a result of the original formation of the roll or fiat fold, as well as to further compensate for width variations of the material throughout its length as a result of its initial weaving. The illustrative material doubling devices of said copending applications include a doubling frame which is mounted for side to side adjustment in relation to its support and to the material supply. By adjustment of the doubling frame, the material may be longitudinally folded in half with the folded over side edge in substantial registry with the reference side edge, despite variations in the width of the material and changes in the location of the supply. Provision is made for the automatic shifting of the doubling frame as a function of the States Patent position of one or both of the side edges of the material so that the shifting is achieved automatically during the run through of the supply to the sewing unit.

Although for many conditions, the constructions of the copending applications has been found to be especially useful, particularly when compared to prior art devices, there remains the possibility that the material will lose .its rather precise orientation during travel from the doubling unit to the stitching unit. The natureof this problem may be more fully appreciated by considering in a little greater detail a typical operation at the sewing unit. At the sewing unit, a stitched line is formedat a location spaced inwardly of the superposed side edges and the edge portions of the material outwardly of the stitch line is trimmed to provide margins of a prescribed width. This is achieved by the use of a conventional reciprocating trimmer which is spaced outwardly of the needle at a distance usually of the order of /s of an inch, which is more or less the normal requirement for the margins. Ultimately, these margins are folded back to open the seam as detailed in my United States Patent No. 2,753,823. It will of course be appreciated that proper operation of the needle and trimmer respectively in forming the stitch line and the trimmed edges require that the folded over material be delivered to the'sewing unit with a rather critical orientation. Shifting of the material in relation to the needle and trimmer can bring about improper operations of the needle and/or the trimmer which will either cause the stitch to be lost or the selvage or margin to be lost. Naturally, the amount of material to the side of the needle directed toward the trimmer should be slightly in excess of the prescribed margin as measured from the stitched line; material in excess of the prescribed margin represents waste and should be reduced to a minimum. Practical experience indicates that sudden changes in widths of the material or the location of the material supplied to the doubler manifests themselves as a loss of the prescribed selvage and/ or the stitch, depending upon how serious the shifting is in one direction; conversely, excessive shifting of the material supplied to the sewing unit in the opposite direction results in excessive trimming and waste. Further, during the free travel of the folded-over material between the doubling unit and the stitching unit, there is a tendency of the material to lose some of the orientation imparted thereto by the doubling unit. The result of such tendency in the loss of registration imparted to the opposite side edges during the doubling operation. Different materials react differently and in general variations are uncontrollable despite the most precise adjustment in the doubling unit. Still further, the forces acting. on the material at the sewing unit tend to introduce variations in feed of the folded over material to the sewing unit. This may be best appreciated by considering what occurs when a rather small trim or selvage cut is taken, which of course is the optimum condition. Under these circumstances, there is a very small body of material so that the side of the trimmer remote from the main body of the material which results in the tendency of the goods to shift away from the trimmer in opposition to the small resistance offered at the side of the trimmer remote from the stitched line. The above enumerated conditions individually and severally contribute to improper feeding of the doubled material to the stitching unit.

' I have found that very precise edge registration may b attained by the provision of an edge-sensing unit between the doubling unit and the sewing unit which is arranged to sense deviations of one or both the side edges from a prescribed path in relation to the sewing unit. The indication of the position of the one or both side edges at this location immediately in advance of the sewing unit is 3 translated to a force which tends to restore the one or both side edges to a prescribed path.

In a typical illustrative embodiment, the edge-registry mechanism includes sensing means arranged along at least one of the edges of the folded over length of material for sensing deviations of said one edge from a prescribed path. A contact is moved into engagement with the material under control of the sensing means and is arranged to urge the material in a direction to restore the side edge to the prescribed path.

Advantageously, variations in the width of the material, variation in the location of the supply, and the tendency of the goods to translate from side to side between the doubling unit and the stitching unit are all taken into account by the present edge-registry mechanism whereby the folded over material is fed in proper relation in relation to the needle and to the trimmer to assure provision of a stitched line with prescribed margins and without excessive trimming.

The above brief description as Well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several illustrative embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view diagrammatically showing an edge-registry mechanism according to the present invention interposed between a doubling unit and a stitching unit;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and on an enlarged scale, showing some of the details of the edge-registry mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1 and on an enlarged scale, showing further details of the edge-registry mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale with parts broken away for the sake of clarity, showing the edgeregistry mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 1 and on an enlarged scale, showing typical sensing devices incorporated in the present registry mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a schematic and diagrammatic showing of the mechanism illustrated specifically in FIGS. 2 to 5 inclusive;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, with parts in section, showing a modification of the edge-registry mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, with parts in section, showing a further modification of the present registry mechanism and,

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the modification illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown diagrammatically at the right of FIG. 1 a combined stitching, folding, ressing and windup unit 10 for joining two superposed of layer of folded fabric or material M together along one side by a line of stitching S to form a continuous tube, as disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,753,823. At the left of FIG. 1, there is shown doubling apparatus 12 which takes the unfolded material in roll form R or in fiat folded condition and is effective to fold the same longitudinally in half about the fold line F with the opposite side edge or margins M M in substantial registry.v The details of preferred doubling apparatus may be found in my copending applications Ser. Nos. 502,620 and 575,441. Although the edge-registry mechanism to be described is found to be particularly useful with the tube-forming apparatus and the doubling apparatus of my copending applications, is to be expressly understood that the edge-registry mechanism finds use with other types of equipment.

The illustrative tube forming apparatus or sewing unit 10, which forms a seaming S at one side of the material M includes, in succession, a pretensioning and feed system 14, sewing'mechanisms 16, seam-forming and opening mechanisms 18, and a rewind 20. The pretensioning and feed system 14 includes pretensioning bars 14a, 14b, 14c, arranged in spaced parallel relation and defining a generally sinuous path for the material in advance of the sewing mechanisms 16 which include a needle 22 and an oscillating type of cutter or trimmer 24 spaced outwardly of the needle at the side remote from that occupied by the material M passing through the sewing unit. Stitching mechanisms, which may be of the conventional lock stitch type, provide a stitch line or seam S at a location inwardly from the superposed side edges of the material. The oscillating trimmer or cutter 24 cuts off the side edges at a fixed distance from the seam, usually at a spacing of the order of 7 to A3 of an inch which has been found to be a convenient width for the margins or sclvages. The trimmed margins outwardly of the stitched lines are folded over and upon the adjacent layers of the tube of material by the seam-forming and opening mechanisms 18, whereupon the tube of material is wound up in the rewind 20 for further processing. For further details of the tubeforming apparatus, reference may be made to my United States Patent No. 2,753,823.

The illustrative doubling unit 12 includes a base upon which is mounted a doubling frame 26 having an idler roller 28 in advance of and parallel to the pretensioning bars 14a, 14b, a first doubling member 30 in the form of a flat bar parallel to and spaced from the roller 28, and angularly disposed second and third doubling members 32, 34 connected to the doubling member 30. The doubling member 30 includes an end 30a terminating along the longitudinal center line of the doubling frame 26 at which end the doubling members 32, 34 meet at an apex. Such doubling frame is generally known to the art. As seen in FIG. 1, the material M emanating from the roll R is wrapped around the roller 28, doubled back beneath the frame 26 and wrapped around the material turning edge provided by the doubling member 30 in one half section; and a further half section of the material is wrapped around the material turning edges of the angular doubling members 32, 34 which turns the other half section of the material into superposed relation to the first or unturned half section. For purposes which will become apparent hereinafter the upper half section of the material will be referred to as M while the lower half section of the material will be referred to as M Similarly the upper side edge or margin will be referred to as the reference side edge 111 while the other side edge or marginal will be referred to as the folded over side edge n1 The functioning of the doubling unit 12 is to deliver the material in folded over condition as illustrated in FIG. 1. For further detailed description of such unit, reference may be made to the mentioned copending applications.

In accordance with the present invention, an edgeregistry unit 50 is interposed between the sewing unit 16 and the doubling unit 12 at a location immediately in advance of the pretensioning system 14. The purpose of the edge-registry mechanism is to maintain the edges m m in substantially perfect registry with each other and along a prescribed feed path in relation to the sewing unit 10. The edge-registry mechanism 50 is located as close to the pretensioning system 14 as is practical in construction since the pretensioning system 14 tends to clamp the superposed layers M M against each other which minimizes loss of previously attained registration between the respective edges m m In a typical construction the distance from the location of the edge registry unit 50 to the needle 22 is of the order of one yard.

Referring now specifically to the detailed showing of FIG. 2 to 5 inclusive, the edge-registry mechanism will now be described. Provision is made for mounting the unit 50 on the cross support 14d of the pretensioning system 14 in a manner wherein the entire unit may be shifted laterally of the material M which is being fed through the unit. The mount includes a main supporting bar 52 which extends into a socket 54 provided in the adjacent end of the bar 14d and a clamp screw 56 which is tapped into the supporting bar 14d and engages the main support 52 to fix the same in any prescribed position of the adjustment to the right or to the left as shown in FIG. 4. Projecting outwardly of the bar 52 is a platform or bottom wall 58 which supports the main operating parts of the unit 50. Normally a protective cover is applied over substantially all of these operating parts; but in the interest of clarity in illustration, the cover has not been shown in any of the several figures of the drawings. Fixed on the bottom wall 58 is an upright 60 which includes a right angle extension having arms 62, 64. The arm 64 is seen to be generally parallel to the upright 60 and carries thereon a separator plate 66 which is adapted to be interposed between the layers of material M M In that the material M travels along a downwardly inclined path from the doubling unit 12 to the stitching unit 10, as illustrated thus in FIG. 2, the entire doubling unit 50 is tilted so that the separator plate 66 lies substantially in the feed plane of the material M between the doubler 12 and the pretensioning system 14. It has been found most convenient to operate the doubling unit and the stitching unit with the .particular orientation of the stitching unit. However, it is to be understood that this is not essential to the operation of the several units 10, 12 and 50 and their cooperation with each other.

On the upper end of the upright 60 contiguous to its juncture-with the'arm 62, there is provided a generally horizontal shaft or pin 68 which serves as a mount upon which is journaled L-shaped rocker arms 70, 72. The arms70a of the rocker arm 70 carries an inwardly directed extension 74 upon which is journaled a materialcontacting roller 76. The L-shaped rocker arm 72 has a material-contacting roller 78 journaled on its arms 72a. As seen in FIG. 3, clockwise. pivotal movement of the rocker arm 70 about the pivot 68 will bring the roller .76 into contact with the upper ply or layer M, of the material; while counterclockwise movement of the rocker arm 72 will bring its roller 78 in contact with the bottom ply or layer M of the material. The respective rollers 76, 78 are toed outwardly in relation to the direction of material travel; that is they are disposed at an angle to the direction of travel of the material, and are directed outwardly toward the edges m m in the direction of travel. Accordingly, as the rollers 76, 78 are broughtinto contact with the material which is backed up by the separator plate 66 which serves as an abutment, wherewill be a tendency for the material to travel outwardly away from the fold line. Thus, when the roller 76 is moved into contact with the top ply M said top ply is moved toward the right in FIGS. 3 and 4 causing some of the material of the bottom ply M to displace about the location where the fold f is formed; conversely when the roller 78 is brought into contact with the bottom ply or layer M the bottom ply travels toward the right in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the resultant displacement of material from the top ply or layer about the fold f. The respective rollers 76, 78 are freely journaled on their supports. and preferably are provided with friction-increasing coatings of rubber, plastic or the like which are somewhat yieldable when brought into pressure contact with the adjacent layers of the material.

The rocker arm 70 includes an ear 80 which extends to the left of the pivot 68 and is connected to a spring 82 which tends to pivot the rocker arm 70 in a counterclockwise direction to bring the roller 76 to a normal position out of contact with and spaced above the ply M, which travels over the separator plate 66. Similarly,

the rocker arm 72 is provided with an extension 84 which is connected to a spring 86 which biases the rocker arm 72 in the clockwise direction to normally maintain the 6 roller 78 out of contact with the bottom ply M and away from the separator plate 66.

On the base plate or platform 58, electrically energizable actuating means in the form of solenoids 88, 90 are provided for respectively operating the rocker arms 79, 72 to bring the rollers 76, 73 individually into contact with the adjacent layers of material. As seen in FIG. 3, the solenoid 88 has a plunger 88a connected by a pivoted linkage 92 to the rocker arm 70 at a location to theright of the pivot 68, while the solenoid 90 has its plunger 90a connected by a pivoted linkage 94 to the rocker arm 72 at a location to the left of the pivot 68.

Individually-responsive sensing devices are provided along the path of travel of the first and second side edges m m which are effective to initiate operation of the contact means or rollers 76, 78 to bring about correction of the registration of the side edges. Specifically, and as seen best in FIGS. 1 and 5, a pair of micro-switches 96, 98 are arranged at a location immediately in advance of the stitching mechanisms, and as will be described in conjunction in FIG. 6, are arranged to exercise individual control over operation of the respective contact rollers 76 and 78. The micro-switches 96, 98 are mounted on the support or table or the sewing unit 10 and have their switch arms or blades 96a, 98a arranged respectively along the paths of travel of the first and second side edges or margins m m of the material. In a typical construction the micro-switches are disposed approximately seven inches in advance of the needle 22 and thepivot 24 'of the sewing unit. The micro-switch 96 is normally closed and is maintained in'its open condition by the edge m when it is traveling along its prescribed path. In response to displacement of the edge m inwardly that is toward the left in FIGS. 3 and 5 inclusive, the microswitch 96 closes and activates the solenoid 88 to bring the roller 76 into contact with the upper layer M The contact of the roller against the layer M causes the material to walk or displace toward the right in FIGS. 3 and 4 which ultimately will restore the micro-switch 96 to its open condition. This in turn will then bring about return of the roller 76 to its normal position out of contact with the material M Similarly, the micro-switch 98 is held open by the edge M of the bottom layer M traveling in a prescribed path. When the bottom layer M travels toward the left in FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive, the micro-switch 98 closes which activitates the solenoid 90- and in turn brings the roller 78 into contact with the bottom layer M The contact to the roller against the material tends to walk or displace the layer M toward the right and ultimately into a position wherein the micro-switch 98 is again opened by the adjacent edge of the material m The respective -micro-switches only respond to displacement of material in one direction. However, it will be appreciated that there is a tendency of the material to displace away from the fold line at the respective sensing locations. 'For example, the material of the upper layer M may tend to travel more to the right as a result of a width or location variation of the material in its double condition. Under this condition the microswitch 96 is ineffective since it is maintained open. However, for this condition, the micro-switch 98 closes thereby bringing about the necessary restoring force on the material.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 6, there is shown a schematic and diagrammatic view which will further aid in an understanding of the operation of the present edge sensing and control mechanism. A main input line 100, 102 in association with auxiliary lines 104, 106 provide energization circuits for the coils 88a, 90a of the respective solenoids 88, 96. The solenoid 88 closes in response to closing of the switch 96, while the solenoid 90 closes in response to closing of the switch 98. The switches 96, 93 are normally biased to their closed condition and are maintained open by contact with the adjacent edges m m of the respective layers of material M M The throw of the respective micro-switches before they close will of course determine the permissible range of variation of the respective side edges before operation of the controlled circuits. Upon closing of the prescribed switch in response to movement of the material away therefrom and toward the fold line, the associated roll will come into contact with the material to translate the material in the opposite direction and to restore the edge to a position wherein the edge reopens the closed switch. The present circuit merely illustrates one of many which are useful for the present purposes.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a modification of the sensing unit 50 which may be employed in the control circuit of FIG. 6 with appropriate micro-switches wired in accordance with the previous detailed description. In the modification, there is provided a support 110 which is fixed to a rod 112 adapted to be mounted on the cross bar 14a for lateral adjustment as was the bar 52 of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5. The base 110 is provided with a guideway 114 which accommodates a C-shaped movable arbor 116 which may be slidably adjusted to the left and right in FIG. 7 between prescribed limits. The base 110 carries a separator plate 118 which is slotted at 120 to allow for the required limited sidewise displacement of the C-shaped arbor 116. Plate 118 has a rearward supporting extension 118a which carries on its upper face a first solenoid 122 and on its lower face a second solenoid 124. The solenoid 122 has its plunger 122a connected by a pivoted linkage 126 to a first material contacting or gripping jaw 128 which is pivoted at 130 on the upright of the arbor 116 for movement into and out of contact with the upper layer or ply of material M Similarly, the plunger 124:: of the solenoid 124 is connected via a pivoted linkage 132 to a material gripping or contact jaw 134 which is pivoted at 136. The jaw 134 is movable into contact with the lower ply or layer of material M The jaws 128, 134 are normally maintained out of contact with the respective plies of material M M by springs 138, 140 connected between the respective jaws and the base 112. A further set of springs 142, 144 are provided which serve to bias the C-shaped movable arbor 116 to its innermost limit position, that is to the extreme left of its travel as illustrated in FIG. 7. The springs 142, 144 are arranged to yield after the springs 138, 140. Accordingly, in response to energization of the solenoid 122 under control of the micro-switch 96, the jaw 128 will be moved first into contact with the upper ply of material M as a result of the pivotal movement of the jaw 128 about its pivot 130; and thence transverse of the ply of material away from the fold line as a result of the displacement of the entire C-shaped arbor through its limited sliding movement to the right in FIG. 7. The compound movement of the jaw 128 into contact with and transverse of the material will have the effect of tending to restore the edge m as the same deviates from the path monitored by blade or contact 96:: of the associated micro-switch 96. Similarly, the solenoid 124 is under control of the microswitch 98 for displacing the bottom ply of material M in the same manner as described in connection with the jaw 128.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 8 and 9 where there is shown a still further embodiment of an edge registry unit which may be mounted in the main showing of FIG. 1 in place of the unit 50. In this illustrative embodiment, the micro-switches are replaced by photo cells. However, the control circuit for the respective solenoids is essentially the same as that illustrated in FIG. 6, with the exception that the switches 96, 98 are replaced by their photo-electric equivalent. In this embodiment, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 150, there is provided a main frame 152 which is mounted by a supporting bar 154 similar in function to the bar 52 of the first embodiment. The frame 152 carries a pivoted carrier 156 which is mounted by pins 153, 159 for swinging movement through a limited arcuate travel. The auxiliary carrier 156 is provided with a channelway 157 which is adapted to receive a C-shaped movable arbor 160. Fixed to the frame 152 is a separator plate 162 which has a rearward extension 162a, cut out as indicated at 121'), to accommodate the swinging or pivotal movement of the assembly of the parts 156, in the direction of travel of the material M. Fixed to the carrier 156 which mounts the arbor 160 for side by side sliding movement are solenoids 164, 166 which are controlled photoelectrically, as illustrated in this embodiment, or by micro-switches as illustrated in the previous embodiments. The solenoid 164 has its plunger 164a connected via a pivoted linkage 168 to a material gripping or contacting jaw 170. Similarly, the solenoid 166 has its plunger 166a connected via a pivoted linkage 172 to a material contacting jaw 174. Springs 176, 178 bias the respective material gripping jaws 170, 174 out of contact with the plies of material M M while further springs 180, 182 bias the adjustable C- shaped arbor to its inner limit, that is to the extreme left position in the illustrative showing of FIGS. 8 and 9. As before, the springs 176, 173 yield before the springs 180, 182 whereby upon energization of the solenoids 164, 166 the respective contact fingers or jaws 170, 174 will be brought into contact with the layers of material M M Further the C-shaped arbor will displace toward the right as the springs 180, 182 yield. Thus, provision is made for adjustment of the fingers or jaws 170, 174 into contact with and transverse of the material as a function of the energization of the respective solenoids.

The solenoid 164 is controlled by a light source 184 in association with a photocell 186 which is directed toward the upper face of the separator plate 162 which is made highly reflective. The beam is normally broken by the interposition of the marginal edge M which precludes the beam from being redirected to the photocell 186. However, when the material displaces toward the left exposing the reflective surface of the adjacent upper face of the separator plate 162, the photocell 186 is activated bringing about energization of the solenoid 164. A similar arrangement of a light source 188 and photocell 199 are provided for control of the solenoid 166 associated with the contact finger 174.

As may be seen by reference to FIG. 9 the entire assembly mounted on the carrier 156 is normally biased into a position extending at right angles to the path of travel of the material, which has been indicated by the directional arrow. This normal position is maintained by a spring 192 which is connected between the carrier 156 and the frame 152. However, in response to either of the jaws 1'76, 174 coming into contact with the adjacent layers of material, the carrier 156 and its associated parts tends to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pivots 158, 160, for example, into the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 9. This form of edge control mechanism has been found to be exceptionally suitable for use with easily stretched and distorted materials wherein pulls directed at right angles to the direction of travel of the material may tend to distort the material.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing detailed description of the several forms of the present invention that there has been provided structures for sensing and compensating for variations in width of material in its travel between a doubling unit and a stitching unit. The several tendencies of the material to displace which brings the edges out of registry with each other are accounted for which assures proper operation of the sewing mechanisms under conditions assuring maximum utilization of the material and avoidin unnecessary waste. Coupled with the maximum yield, is the further important assurance that sufiicient material will always be presented to the cutting and trimming mechanisms to assure provision of a proper and continuous stitch and a clean, well-defined selvage of a prescribed widt Further, the edge-registry mechanism serves admirably to maintain the opposite side edges in substantial registry despite radical changes in the width of' the goods in comparatively short length. It will be appreciated that the deviations in question are dimensionally small. Shifting of an edge a-distance of the order of one-quarter of an inch can bring about improper operation of the stitching unit and/ or the trimmer. The present means monitors each edge independently of the other and responds to very small lateral deviations which normally cannot be handled by the doubler. For example, a small deifiation in one direction may occur in the doubler at one instant. This may be followed by a deviation in the opposite direction and before the doubler can respond to the first deviation. The'resolution of the doubler is not of the order to compensate for these successive deviations. Rather, the doubler averages these deviations. Any attempts for finer resolution at the doubler would be to no avail since the goods, upon leaving the doubler, is still subject to the possibility of losing its edge orientation. The operationand positioning of the present means is such that at the last moment before. the goods enters the stitching unit, final orientation is imparted to the opposite edges. Further, in view of the provision for'separate sensing and control of the respective edges, the most random variations in each edge, independent of the other, is compensated for so that both marginal portions of the material are fed to the stitching and trimming unit in the proper relationship.

A latitude of modification and substitution and variation is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

l. A locating device for use with a folded length of material including superposed portions having a common fold and first and second side edges comprising a plate extending between said superposed portions, first sensing means arranged along a first prescribed path of travel for said first side edge and arranged to respond to deviations of said first side edge from said first prescribed path in the direction of said fold, second sensing means arranged along a second prescribed path of travel for said second side edge and arranged to respond to deviations of said second side edge from said second prescribed path in the direction of said fold, and first and second material displacing means under control of said first and second sens ing means respectively and coacting with said plate for laterally adjusting said material to restore said first and second side edges to their respective paths of travel, each of said material displacing means including a roller extending angularly of said path of travel of said material and movable toward said plate and into contact with the adjacent portion of said material, each of said rollers cooperating with said plate to urge said material in a direction away from said fold.

2. In mechanisms for forming a stitched tube of material, doubling means arranged to fold said material longitudinally in half with opposite side edges superposed, means including a needle operative at a stitching location for forming a seam in said folded material along a line spaced inwardly of said side edges, means including a cutter operative at a cutting location to trim edge-adjacent portions of said folded material, said stitching and cutting locations being spaced from each other to provide prescribed margin portions outwardly of said seam, orienting means for each half of said folded material in advance of said stitching and cutting locations for maintaining said side edges in substantial registry, and vertically superposed sensing devices at a location spaced laterally and outwardly from said cutting location and in controlling relation to said orienting means to assure feed of edgeadjacent portions to said cutter for provision of said prescribed marginal portions, said orienting means being disposed one above the other.

3. In combination, material-doubling means arranged to fold a length of material longitudinally in half about a median fold line to bring opposite side edges of said length of material, into superposed relation, stitching mechanisms including a needle for forming a stitched seam along a line spaced inwardly from said side edges, and superposed edge orienting and registering means for each half of the folded material between said material-doubling means and said stitching mechanism for maintaining said side edges in a prescribed orientation to said needle and in substantial registry with each other, said edge orienting and registering means being constructed and arranged so as to assure delivery of the material to said needle with sufiicient material outwardly of said needle to provide selvage portions despite width variations in said material and including first sensing means arranged along a first prescribed path of travel for said first side edge and arranged to respond to deviationsof said first side edge from said first prescribed path in the direction of. said fold line,

second sensing means arranged along a secondprescribed path of travel for said secondsideedge and arranged to respond to deviations of said second side edge from said second prescribed path in the direction of said fold line, said first and second sensing means being vertically superposed, and first and second material displacing means respectively under control of said first and second sensing means and movable into contact with said material for laterally adjusting said material to restore said first and second side edges to their respective paths of travel.

4. In combination, material-doubling means arranged to fold a. length of material longitudinally in half about a median fold line-do bring opposite side edges of said length of material into superposed relation, stitching mechanisms including a needle for forming a stitched seam along a line spaced inwardly from said side edges, and edge orienting and registering means for each half of the folded material between said material-doubling means and said stitching mechanism for maintaining said side edges in a prescribed orientation to said needle and in substantial registry with each other, said edge orienting and registering means being disposed one above the other and being constructed and arranged so as to assure delivery of the material to said needle with sufficient material outwardly of said needle to provide selvage portions despite width variations in said material and including first sensing means arranged along a first prescribed path of travel for said first side edge and arranged to respond to deviations of said second side edge from said second prescribed path in the direction of said fold line, second sensing means arranged along a second prescribed path of travel for said second side edge and arranged to respond to deviations of said second side edge from said second prescribed path in the direction of said fold line, said first and second sensing means being vertically superposed, and first and second material displacing means respectively under the control of said first and secondsensing means and movable into contact with said material for laterally adjusting said material to restore said first and second side edges to their respective paths of travel, said material displacing means including contact members normally spaced from said material and each movable into contact with said material in response to operation of the respective sensing means.

5. An edge registry mechanism for a length of doubled material including first and second folded-over portions having corresponding first and second superposed edges comprising a plate arranged to extend between said foldedover portions, first sensing means, means mounting said first sensing means along a first prescribed path of travel such that said first sensing means is responsive to devia- 1 1 tions of said first edge from said first prescribed path, second sensing means, means mounting said second sensing means along a second prescribed path of travel such that said second sensing means is responsive to deviations of said second edge from said second prescribed path, a first material-contacting member, means operatively connected to and mounting said first material-contacting member for movement toward and away from said plate and into and out of engagement with said first folded-over portion such that said first material-contacting member urges said material in a direction to restore said first edge to said first prescribed path, first operating means responsive to said first sensing means and in controlling relation to said first material-contacting member for moving said first material-contacting member into and out of engagement with said first folded-over portion, a second material-contacting member, means operatively connected to and mounting said second material-contacting member for movement toward and away from said plate and into and out of engagement with said second folded-over portion such that said second material-contacting member urges said material in a direction to restore said second edge to said second prescribed path, and second operating means responsive to said second sensing means and in controlling relation to said second material-contacting member for moving said second material-contacting mem- 12 her into and out of engagement with said second foldedover portion.

6. An edge registry mechanism according to claim 5 wherein each of said material-contacting members includes a roller journaled for rotation about an axis extending at an angle to said paths of travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 642,141 Lyon Jan. 30, 1900 1,752,966 Rudsen Apr. 1, 1930 1,769,687 Hamilton July 1, 1930 2,286,426 LeRoy et al. June 16, 1942 2,290,123 Wilfong July 14, 1942 2,413,891 Roy Jan. 7, 1947 2,483,138 Helmer Sept. 27, 1949 2,534,686 Strauss et al Dec. 19, 1950 2,546,527 Smyth Mar. 27, 1951 2,619,057 Ellis Nov. 25, 1952 2,685,725 Phelps Aug. 10, 1954 2,726,611 Cloutier Dec. 13, 1955 2,730,977 Hayes et al. Jan. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 280,498 Switzerland May 1, 1952 

